About
Contact
Links
Electronic Flora of South Australia
Electronic Flora of South Australia
Census of SA Plants, Algae & Fungi
Identification tools
 

Electronic Flora of South Australia genus Fact Sheet

Family: Ericaceae
Acrotriche

Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 547 (1810).

Derivation: Greek akron, summit, extremity; thrix, hair; alluding to the tuft of hairs at the summit of the corolla lobes.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Small shrubs with spreading branches and crowded leaves; branchlets pubescent to hirsute; leaves with upper surface glossy and veins inconspicuous, lower surface dull or glaucous, with parallel thickened veins or with 3 or 4 central striae and laterals radiating towards the margin, shortly petiolate.

Flower spikes arising from old branches or axillary, with a single bract and 2 bracteoles per flower; bracteoles and sepals usually ovate to almost orbicular, obtuse, glabrous except for the ciliolate margins; corolla tube usually longer than the calyx, often somewhat inflated, glabrous outside, inside with 5 hairy scales or tufts of hairs at the top spreading across the throat; lobes valvate in the bud, spreading in the open flower, each lobe with an erect tuff of long hairs near the apex; stamens exserted, the short filaments inserted at the throat; ovary 2-7- rarely to 10-celled, with 1 ovule per cell; style cylindrical, stigma lobed; nectary annular, upper margin entire or toothed.

Distribution:  14 species, endemic to Australia.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:
1. Leaves horizontally spreading to reflexed, with recurved margins; inflorescences arising from old branches near the base of the plant; spikes with 8-20 or more flowers
 
2. Spikes openly spaced, drooping; leaves less than 5 mm wide, with 3 parallel central veins, others spreading and branching towards the margin
A. depressa 3.
2. Spikes densely massed, with flowers erect; leaves 5-12 mm long, with 5-7 parallel veins
 
3. Leaves thin, usually flat, with mucronate tips; bracteoles and sepals obtuse, the latter reddish, 3-5 mm long
A. fasciculiflora 4.
3. Leaves thick, usually convex, with a long fine point; bracteoles and sepals acute, the latter pale-green, 6-8 mm long
A. halmaturina 5.
1. Leaves erect, suberect or spreading, with straight margins; inflorescences axillary or on old wood at the base of the current growth; usually 4-8 flowers per spike
 
4. Leaves elliptic to oblong, with a short callus developed on the underside
A. cordata 2.
4. Leaves narrowly to broadly ovate-lanceolate, with a fine pungent point
 
5. Leaves 3-8 mm wide, with 3 or 4 central parallel veins, others radiating to the margins
A. patula 6.
5. Leaves 0.5-2 mm wide, with 3-7 broad thick veins
 
6. Leaves thick, rigid, usually glabrous, deeply grooved between the 3-7 veins; corolla tube 2.7-3.3 mm long
A. affinis 1.
6. Leaves thin, often lax, usually with scattered long hairs on both surfaces and ciliate margins; shallow grooves between the thickened midrib and 2-4 other veins; corolla tube 4-4.7 mm long
A. serrulata 7.

Author: Not yet available


Disclaimer Copyright Disclaimer Copyright Email Contact:
State Herbarium of South Australia
Government of South Australia Government of South Australia Government of South Australia Department for Environment and Water